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My hands shake as I open her message.
Jordyn: I’m home. She knew I came in early. I covered telling her I wanted to inform you I was going to be married and that nothing could be between us, even though I was back in town. She bought it.
“Shit.”
“What?” Kennedy asks.
“I forgot to mention the part where her mom and dad are expecting her to marry a man of their choosing. One they can pass the law firm down to.”
“Fuck that,” Merrick says vehemently. “She can’t marry someone who’s not you.”
“She thinks she has to go through with it to protect us. I told her to hold off as long as she could to stall to see if we can think of something.”
“We need dirt on the parents.”
“That they had their son killed isn’t enough?” Rushton spits. His wife Crosby places her hand on his and his shoulders relax.
“Like hire a private investigator?” Scarlett asks.
“My wife is a genius,” Archer says, kissing her shoulder.
“I don’t have that kind of money. I could sell the house, and move back in with Mom and Dad,” I say absentmindedly as ideas of how to get more cash float through my mind.
“No,” Ramsey speaks up. “I can’t let you do that. Find someone, and send me the bill.”
“Rams—” I start, but she holds her hand up to stop me.
“Listen to me, Ryder Kincaid. You are my family. Your parents took me in when I had no other options. All nine of you welcomed me, not as your cousin, but treated me like a sister. I have the money.”
“That’s your trust fund. I can’t let you do that.”
Deacon, her husband, laughs. “Um, Ryder, man, she can afford it.”
“Thanks, baby.” Ramsey turns and places a kiss on Deacon’s cheek.
I hate to take a handout, but I have to get Jordyn out of there. This is the answer. We need to get dirt on her mother, and blackmail her, or fuck, turn her ass in, and Jordyn will be free from her controlling, vindictive ways.
“I’ll pay you back.” My voice is low and cracks with the emotion threatening to pull me under.
“You’ll do no such thing. This is a family matter. Deacon and I have our practice, Orrin and Declan have their shops, and Palmer has her studio. Brooks has his nursing license, and the list goes on and on. It’s all at risk, everything we’ve all worked for. This is a family matter, and there is nothing better I can think of to spend some of this money on. Trust me, there’s plenty. I won’t even notice it’s gone.” She smirks, and I can’t help but grin.
“Show off,” Orrin mutters, making us all laugh, and effectively breaking up the tension in the room.
Ramsey sticks her tongue out at him, and he chuckles. “Right, so how do we find a good private investigator?”
“I have a client who hired one from Atlanta,” Deacon speaks up.
“Perfect. Can you get his info and send that on to Ryder?” she asks.
“I think one of us should call,” Rushton suggests. “I think Ry is too close to this.”
“I’ll do it.” Orrin raises his hand. “I’m the oldest, and I have a business she’s trying to ruin. It makes sense, should any of this get back to Jordyn’s family before we’re ready for it to.”
“We’re not breaking the law,” Deacon, the lawyer, chimes in.
“I know, but I’ll still do it,” Orrin tells him.
“That’s putting a larger target on your back, Orrin. I can do it,” I tell him.
“No. You stay calm. Keep your phone handy. Check in on your girl. Sneak to see her if you can, and let us take the lead on this.”
“I—” My words get stuck in my throat. “I love you. All of you. I knew you could help me. Help us. I told her that I just needed to speak with all of you and we could figure it out.” I pause. “Ramsey, I promise I’ll pay back every dime. It may take me a lifetime, but I will.”
“Nope. I don’t want your money, Ryder. I just want you to be happy.”
“Wait,” Deacon speaks up. “How about some babysitting?” He grins and wags his eyebrows at his wife.
“Done. Anytime. I’m your guy.” The words are barely past my lips when my phone rings. Looking down, I see Jordyn’s name and smile. “It’s Jordyn.”
“We’ll get out of your hair,” Alyssa says and stands from Sterling’s lap, and the others follow suit.
“Hey, sweets,” I answer.
“Hi.” Her voice is soft.
“Hi, Jordyn!” Maverick calls out, and the rest of my family follow suit. I put the phone on speaker so they can all call out to her.
Jordyn expels a heavy breath. It's almost as if she’s in disbelief that they’re being so welcoming.
“H-Hi,” she stammers, her voice soft and uncertain.
I take the phone off speaker and place it to my ear. My girl is worried about my family being upset with her. I explained what happened, and they’re willing to do whatever they can to help us, but that’s not something I can prove to her over the phone. It’s going to take time, and probably a visit, much like we had tonight, for everyone to lay their feelings out on the table and move on. “Do I have time to say goodbye to them?” I ask Jordyn.
